Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-12
Mr.. Powderly,s Temperance View


Mr.. Powderly, in his recent contribution
to the journal Of United Labor, thus Wig
orously strikes at the worst enemy of the
Nottingham:
II know that in refusing to even touch
drop OF strong drink was and am right.
In refusing to treat another to that which
do not believe to be good for myself to
drink I know am right. In refusing to
associate with men who get drunk 1 know
am right. In not allowing rumseller to
gain admittance into the order Of the
Knights Of Labor know am right. In
advising our associates not to rent halls or
meeting-rooms over drinking places I
know that am right. have done this
from the day my voice was first heard in
the council halls of our order. My posi-
ton on the question Of temperance is
right. I am determined to maintain and
will not alter it one jot or title,
There can be no question Of the sinceri-
ty Of Mr.. Powderly's efforts in behalf Of
workingmen and their best interests.
Though his advice has not always been fol-
lowed, he has been judicious adviser, and
whore workingmen have taken different
course from what he has counseled it has
invariably worked to their detriment. He
has repeatedly warned them against the
folly Of violence, of interference with the
rights Of non union men, of boycotting, Of
il-timed strikes, and against the incendi-
ary utterances Of local demagogues and
walking delegates of the Irons, Butler, and
Quinn stripe. He has counseled arbitra-
ton before action, and he has urged mod.
Grafton, obedience to law, and resort to
legitimate methods in settling the work.
ingmen's grievances. OF late he has de-
plored the ignorance which exists among
the members of his league and has strong-
ly urged upon them the benefits Of edu-
cation. In studying the cause of their
poverty and dissatisfaction he discovers it
to be intemperance; and he denounces it
with all the fire and vigor of which he is
capable. The liquor drank last year cost
the bibbers $750,O0u, 00O-a sum equal to
oil the national, State, county, township,
and school taxes Of the United States.
Nine-tenths of the liquor was consumed in
the cities and towns, and the proportion Of
it drank by the wage classes is something
frightful to contemplate. This, Powder
~ sees, is the consuming FIRE that is burn
OF the cities and destroying their minds,
morals, health, and family welfare. Pow
Gerly wants the workmen to reform their
habits aud practice temperance.
The workingmen in the Knights Of Labor
and in every trades union would do we'll to
heed his words. Among all the causes
which combine to make them ignorant, I'M
happy, discontented, and poor not one is
SO potent ss strong drink. It is the worst
enemy with which they have to contend.
It Turks insidiously at every corner and
offers its temptations night and day. It
robs them Of their wages, strips them Of
their work, leads them into lawlessness and
crime, plunges their wives and children
into hopeless poverty, and ultimately ruins
them physically and mentally. No one can
debasing effects than the man who is at
tempting to improve their condition and
conserve their interests. He is in posi-
ton to realize the evil TO its fullest extent,
and the earnestness and even solemnity
with which he speaks show what q fearful
obstacle he has found it to DO.
1t is noticeable in this connection that
Mr.. Powderly is the only one of the labor
champions who has had the courage and
honesty to acknowledge and denounce
this curse. Socialism has never recognize
ed it. Not one Of its orators has ever told
workingmen the glaring truth that alcohol
is the prime cause of the laborer's troubles.
George and McGlynn. among all their
anti-poverty prescriptions, have never
recommended the remedy Of temperance.
esty to tell their deluded followers that if
there were no intemperance there would he
no poverty, except what comes from utter
Incompetence or exceptional misfortune.
MIR. Powderly, however, boldly and frank
ly tells the whole truth, concealing moth
ing, and with power and eloquence that
indicate he might do more for labor than
he is accomplishing now if he would take
the field among the laboring men in the
manner of Murphy and press the subject
home.-ChicaOo Tribune.